AROUND THE WORLD.

Germany, Pakistan join Security Council

UNITED NATIONS — With the start of 2003, the UN Security Council takes on five new members Wednesday and bids adieu to another five who are wrapping up 2-year terms on the 15-nation body.

With disarmament of Iraq at the top of the council's agenda, Germany, Spain, Pakistan, Chile and Angola take rotating seats on the council after midnight Tuesday, New York time.

They join the council's five permanent members--the United States, France, Russia, Britain and China--and five other nations with a year left on their two-year terms: Bulgaria, Cameroon, Guinea, Mexico and Syria.